BIM for building surveyors: background to new guidance note

Modelling is the norm

1 September 2016

Phil Southgate explains the background to the new RICS guidance note BIM for building
surveyors

Building surveying is a diverse profession that demands a
wide skill set. A building surveyor can be involved in many different
construction projects, with roles varying from technical assurance to designing
and managing works.

Level 2 building information modelling (BIM) was mandated in
April for construction projects procured by central government departments. But
if Level 2 BIM does offer the promised benefits, the relative narrowness of
this mandate is irrelevant.

Building surveyors should be aware that it is worth
embracing Level 2 BIM. The breadth of your service offering and capabilities
means you have the most to gain. The new RICS guidance note BIM
for building surveyors will help you on your way.

Various definitions

Perhaps the 1st distinction to grasp is the one between
Level 2 BIM and a model – unfortunately, we tend to talk about them as though
they are one and the same, which is confusing.

building information modelling is the process of
designing, constructing, operating a building or infrastructure asset using
electronic object-oriented information

a model is a digital, object-oriented representation of a
built asset (in part or in full)

a project information model is all the documentation,
models and data needed to design and construct an asset.

So when we talk about Level 2 BIM, what we mean is defined,
managed processes covering the creation, use and application of models and
their data, plus the extra information needed to create an accurate, reliable
project information model.

The processes themselves can be simple or complex, but the
point is to ensure that design and construction data is:

produced at the right time to support decision-making

produced in an appropriate format, shared and accessible
to those people who need to access it

can be used efficiently.

The processes are based on the principle of collaboration
and managed data and information sharing.

If Level 2 BIM requirements are clearly defined by the
client and the processes are implemented effectively, then the result should be
a predictable, achievable construction project supported by a structured record
of the data needed to maintain and operate the completed asset.

It sounds simple. Of course, the starting point is the
defined criteria for Level 2 BIM set out in a document called the employer’s
information requirements (EIRs). In your role you might find that your client
needs help drafting this, so you must be aware of content requirements, how
these will be expressed in the contract document, what parties the document is relevant
to and what you might expect to see in response to it.

The BIM
for building surveyors guidance note will take you through this. It will
likewise tell you about the required response to the EIRs, which is the BIM
execution plan (BEP). Take note of this too – you may need to submit, contribute
to or even coordinate a project BEP. So the EIRs cover what the client wants
from project data and information, and the BEP covers how you as the surveyor
will provide the client with this. A further aspect of Level 2 BIM is the
protocol, the document that captures the EIRs as an appointment or contract
requirement.

There are three other pieces to Level 2 BIM to think about:

having a means of storing and retrieving project data and
files so that they are available to those who need to access them, which is
referred to as the “common data environment”

the extent of modelling to be undertaken

the scope and content of the asset data to be collected.

The EIRs should to an extent give direction on each of
these, but whatever your particular role it is possible that you will be:

saving to and/or accessing files and data from the common
data environment

producing, receiving and/or working with models and the
data in them

contributing to the asset data to be provided.

This is a swift run though Level 2, and the note will fill
the gaps.

Conclusion

You could say, on one hand, Level 2 BIM is little more than
defined common sense. On the other, you can see the way in which it is heading:
quietly but firmly towards a data-oriented industry where modelling is the
norm, collaboration and transparency are vital and software and systems are
embraced. After the initial pain, these things will make our lives easier.